effects of biebersteinia multifida hydro-ethanol extract on proliferation and apoptosis of human prostate cancer and human embryonic kidney cells

objective: biebersteinia (geraniaceae) has a history of use in traditional medicine in some countries including iran. in the present study, cytotoxic and apoptogenic properties of hydro-ethanol extract of b. multifidi was investigated on human prostate cancer cell lines (pc3 and du 145) and human embryonic kidney 293 (hek293) cells. materials and methods: cells were cultured in rpmi-1640 medium supplemented with 10% fbs at 37ºc in a humidified atmosphere of 95% air and 5% co2. the root of the plant was macerated with etoh 70%. cytotoxic activity of ethanol extract of b. multifida was assessed using alamarblue® assay after 48 hr of treatment. apoptotic cells were stained with propidium iodide (pi) and detected by flow cytometry (sub-g1 peak). results: b. multifidi had cytotoxic effect on malignant cells and normal hek293 cells in a dose-dependent manner and significantly decreased the cell viability (ic50 values were between 199.2 and 302.9 µg/ml). b. multifida increased the sub-g1 peak in flow cytometry histogram of treated pc3 cells compared to control showing the induction of apoptosis and dna fragmentation. conclusion: due to cytotoxic and apoptotic activity of b. multifida, the plant is suggested for further phytochemical analysis and mechanistic evaluation.